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TIP: That or Who?

The woman who wrote this book is a very good writer.

The waiter who served me at the coffee shop commented on how cute Rambo is.

This is the desk that I use at work – and it is covered in books and paper!

• an understanding of how you can use the web to connect with readers, publishers, agents, librarians, booksellers and others in a way that feels authentic to you
• confidence in your ability to use various web platforms
• knowledge to create a simple online video to promote your work
• workshopped ideas for expanding your current work into cross-platform projects, such as using video, audio and interactive web tools to bring your stories to life
• lots of inspiration to help you break through procrastination and get active.

SD Harvey Short Story Award

The Crime Writers Association of Australia is now accepting entries for the SD Harvey Short Story Award. Established in memory of journalist and true crime author, Sandra Harvey, the award is for the best short story up to 5,000 words. The story must include this year’s signature word, which is ‘Fountain’. (‘Fountain’ must appear in both the title and the story.)

The winning author will be announced at the Ned Kelly Awards ceremony in August, and will receive $1,000 cash plus publication in the Sydney Morning Herald. You need to send three copies of your story, along with an entry form and $12 entry fee, no later than Monday 31 May 2010.

You can get more information and an entry form here.

Take your writing on holiday
Would you love the opportunity to combine your love of writing with travel? Travel writing could see you writing feature articles from exotic locations in Africa, luxurious resorts in Thailand, or even fabulous getaways close to home.

If you’re ready to launch your career as a travel writer, this two-hour seminar will give you the insider information you need to get started.

We’ll show you:

• publishing opportunities (newspapers, magazines, electronic publishing, travel literature, guidebooks, other avenues)
• types of travel stories (service stories, destination stories, personal essays)
• what it takes to be a travel writer
• some straight talk about earnings
• finding and focusing your story (the right subject, travel trends, developing your story)
• the art and craft of travel writing
• getting published and making contacts (including tips on joining professional associations such as the Australian Society of Travel Writers)
• writing for travel guidebooks

Book giveaway – The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
We were thrilled to interview Booker Prize shortlisted author Sarah Waters for our podcast series recently. She’s been very successful in the UK and around the world and is best known for her Victorian novels, Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith, both of which were made into television series for the BBC.

The Little Stranger was released last year to great acclaim and garnered her a second Booker shortlist nomination. Here’s a bit more about the book:

In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its masonry crumbling, its gardens choked with weeds, the clock in its stable yard permanently fixed at twenty to nine. Its owners – mother, son and daughter – are struggling to keep pace with a changing society, as well as with conflicts of their own.
 
But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his.
 
We have one copy of The Little Stranger to give away and if you would like to win it, just tell us about your spookiest ghost encounter (you can make one up if you like!). Send your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by Friday 7 May 2010 – and don’t forget to include your postal address!

(Congratulations to Joann Duff, who won The Long Song by Andrea Levy, and Paul Mahoney, who won Kiss of Death by PD Martin.)

Your grammar and punctuation refresher
You can transform your writing just by learning and using some basic rules of grammar and punctuation. And they’re not difficult to learn! Our one-day seminar is designed to help you identify and correct common errors in business writing – and also prevent them in your own work.

We’ll show you the golden rules of grammar and punctuation that you may not have learnt at school. You'll come away with:

• knowledge that you can apply easily and immediately in your writing
• a clear understanding of how to treat common mistakes - such as apostrophes and plurals
• the basic rules you need to know to be confident in the workplace
• an understanding of when to bend, break or keep a rule or convention
• ability to discern when more than one solution is acceptable
• empowerment to justify your corrections to your own and other people's writing
• a taste of how professional editors approach their craft
• more confidence in applying the standard hard-copy editing marks to double-spaced copy
• and much more

Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:
‘I took this course as if I was going to undertake a general health check-up. I was glad to know that though I did not have major problems, after taking this course, I feel much healthier! Deb's course has refined and sharpened my grammar and punctuation. Now I can be more polished in my writing and when I read good books/articles I can learn and pick the good and correct styles from them because I now understand better the role and function of grammar and punctuation.’
- Fourteena Pusaka Dewi Halim

‘I enjoyed the seemingly limitless amount of examples Deb had on offer at the drop of a hat. Grammar and terminology have a tendency to confuse me with overwhelming detail, so relating it back to actual examples was indispensable.’
- Chris Deal

Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 26 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

WORDWISE: Toe the line
Which is correct – ‘Tow the line’ or ‘Toe the line’? And what does it mean? Here’s the answer from http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/trivia03.htm

Once a week, as a rule, usually on Sunday, a warship's crew was ordered to fall in at quarters – that is, each group of men into which the crew was divided would line up in formation on a given area of the deck. To ensure a neat alignment of each row, the sailors were directed to stand with their toes just touching a particular seam. Another use for these seams was punitive. The youngsters in a ship, be they ship's boys or student officers, might be required to stand with their toes just touching a designated seam for a length of time as punishment for some minor infraction, such as talking or fidgeting at the wrong time.

A tough captain might require the miscreant to stand there, not talking to anyone, in fair weather or foul, for hours at a time. Hopefully, he would learn it was easier and more pleasant to conduct himself in the required manner rather than suffer the punishment. From these two uses of deck seams comes our cautionary word to obstreperous youngsters to "toe the line."

(from the Nautical terms and Phrases page)

WEBPICK: Strangling my muse
It may seem as though there are endless blogs on writing and creativity all offering the same advice, but it’s always worth checking out more as you never know what useful nuggets of advice you might find!

Our latest one is Strangling My Muse, written by San Franciscan writer Sandy Ackers. She writes everything from screenplays to poetry, and she is also working on a book on creativity – and that’s where her blog comes in. It’s full of ways to inspire you and to make creativity part of daily life. There are some really interesting tips here – some that we in the office might even try too!

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley - FULL
When: Friday 30 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 3 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 10 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Perfecting your pitch with Sue White
When: Tuesday 11 May and 18 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 13 May and 20 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165

Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 14 May 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Week beginning Monday 24 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 25 May 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495

Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 26 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Travel writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 26 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle - NEW DATE
When: Friday 28 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: DAYTIME Feature Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 2 June 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 2 June 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 10 June 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 18 June 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley - NEW DATE
When: Thursday 24 June 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 5 July - Friday 9 July 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July 2010 (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $450

Course: Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks - NEW COURSE
When: Mondays beginning Monday 19 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450

Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller - FULL
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010

Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller - FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010

• which ideas work and where to get them
• understanding the magazine/news market
• different types of feature articles
• how to research, structure and write a feature
• what editors want from a writer
• how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!

Aussie Con 4 Short, Short Story Competition

Here’s your chance to let your imagination run wild. The 68th World Science Fiction Convention will be held in Melbourne later this year and, to celebrate, they’re holding a short, short story competition for all fantasy, science fiction, and horror writers.
 
Here’s what you must do – write a story of no more than 1,500 words that qualifies as fantasy, sci-fi, speculative fiction or horror. The story must include an Australian landmark or town and use the words ‘make ready’.
 
The Australian Science Fiction Foundation has donated cash prizes - $200 for first prize and $150 for second – and entries close at midnight on Friday 21 May 2010. You can find out more about the competition and Aussie Con 4 here.

Parlour Song – B Sharp Theatre ticket offer
For Sydney readers, here’s an offer from B Sharp at Belvoir Street St Theatre.
 
Parlour Song is the latest play by British dramatist Jez Butterworth, and it has already been very successful in Europe and America. The New York Times described it as ‘... a smart and rueful new play by the British dramatist Jez Butterworth’.
 
Life in McMansionville is great – BBQ’s, booze, workouts and the occasional game of sexy Scrabble – or so it seems. Ned demolishes buildings by day but can’t sleep a wink at night; his neighbour Dale has just noticed a new door in the house he’s lived in for years and something is making his wife Joy very, very thirsty. Underneath the veneer of happiness lurks a surreal world where the weather is strange and the suburban dream looks decidedly shaky.

This hilarious comedy is about the trappings of the ‘aspirational’ generation in a world where anything can be purchased, buildings are built and blown up, possessions disappear and people are never quite who they seem.

For performances between Tuesday 18 May and Sunday 23 May, you can purchase adult tickets for the concession price of $24 – that’s $8 off the full price. If you’d like to take up the offer call 02 9699 3444 and quote ‘Early Bird Special’.
 
You can find out more about the play and Belvoir Street Theatre here.

Writing for the web
If you’re writing web content for your company, you want to make sure it’s concise and engaging. Writing for the web the same way you write for print just won’t cut it. But you can learn to write effectively for your website and get your message across to more people.
 
Our one-day seminar will show you the essential elements of good web writing. You’ll learn:

• the difference between print and online writing
• the differences between good content and poor content
• how your readers engage with web content
• the golden rules of information design
• guidelines for concise writing
• how to use keywords for search engine optimisation
• how to write for accessibility and usability
• why you need a style guide
• and much more

TIP: Lighted or Lit?
One of our readers asked us to clarify the difference between ‘lighted’ and ‘lit’. She’s noticed that the use of ‘lighted’ seems to be becoming more prevalent in writing.
 
Well, there’s actually no difference between the two in meaning. They’re both a past participle of ‘light’ and you can safely use either:

We lit the candles.

We lighted the candles.

It will come down to what you think sounds better. Lit is probably the most commonly used version.

DID YOU KNOW? From Coyote Ugly to Eat, Pray, Love
Author Elizabeth Gilbert is just one of the many international panellists appearing at the upcoming Sydney Writers' Festival and I have no doubt that her sessions are going to be among the most popular.

Many of you will know of Elizabeth's “freakishly successful” (her words, not mine!) novel Eat, Pray, Love. The big screen version of the book will soon be released starring Julia Roberts. Well, did you know that this isn't the first time Elizabeth's writing has inspired the making of a film? Remember the film Coyote Ugly starring Piper Perabo, Maria Bello and Australia's own Adam Garcia? (Yes the one with the tune "Can't Fight the Moonlight" by Leanne Rimes.) It’s the movie about the girl bartenders who raised the roof with their antics in a New York drinking hole. Well, that movie was inspired by an article Elizabeth wrote for GQ magazine about her experiences as one of those bartenders!

Online Creative Writing
Do you have a great story idea but you’re just not sure how to start writing it? Have you been writing for a while but want to refine your stories with better characters, plot and structure?
 
Our Online Creative Writing course will help you get started on your writing project by showing you the elements of a great story. This course will teach you how to:  

• kick-start the creative writing process
• tap into your imagination
• draw from everyday experiences and memories
• examine different types of creative writing
• give structure to your writing
• use characters and dialogue

Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the course:
‘Online delivery was easy and convenient. The best thing about this mode of delivery was that I was able to take a course from SWC while based in Beijing.’
- Sonia Cahill
 
‘The website was very user friendly. Interaction with the students/tutor via [the forum] posts was great. Having access to the modules and site at any time was very helpful and the feedback was invaluable. What an amazing feeling to have your work critiqued by someone with so much experience too - that in itself was worth paying for! The fact that you can fit this course into your own schedule is fantastic. I would never have been able to get to Sydney to do it otherwise.’
- Alison Marshall
 
Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 3 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.

WEBPICK: 3000 Books
Oh, to have the time to read 3,000 books! Well, Estelle Tang thinks she’ll be able to do it by the time she turns 83 – that’s 50 books a year. Her blog, 3000 Books, is the result of all this reading.

It’s a mixture of her thoughts on the books she’s read and also information for writers about competitions and other opportunities. While many of her choices are literary fiction or short stories, she does have reviews on kids’ books and popular fiction.
 
You can read 3000 books here.

Other upcoming courses
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 23 April 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 26 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Wednesday 28 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley - FULL
When: Friday 30 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 3 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Perfecting your pitch with Sue White
When: Tuesday 11 May and 18 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 13 May and 20 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165

Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 14 May 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Week beginning Monday 24 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 25 May 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495

Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle - NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 26 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Travel writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 26 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 2 June 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 2 June 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 10 June 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 18 June 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 5 July - Friday 9 July 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July 2010 (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450

Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller - FULL
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010

Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller - FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010

‘I brought Rambo home from the doggie rescue shelter.’

‘I bought Rambo a new collar and doggie bed.’

• kick-start the creative writing process
• tap into your imagination
• draw from everyday experiences and memories
• examine different types of creative writing
• give structure to your writing
• use characters and dialogue

ABR Short Story Competition

The Australian Book Review Short Story Competition is now open for entries. This is one of a number of competitions held by the ABR to encourage and foster new writing in Australia – they also hold the Calibre Prize for an Outstanding Essay, Young Calibre, the ABR Poetry Prize and the ABR Reviewing Competition.

The short story competition is for any works between 1,000 and 3,000 words long. Multiple entries are welcome but stories must not have been published. First prize is $2,000, second prize $500, and third prize is a three-year subscription to ABR.

Entries close Monday 10 May 2010 and you can download the conditions and entry form here.

TIP: Regardless vs irregardless
Regardless of what you've been taught, you should never use the word "irregardless". The correct word is "regardless".

The confusion probably arises because we are so used to adding the prefix to words like "irresponsible" and "irregular". When it comes to "regardless", the inclusion of "less" already turns the word into the negative form, so there's no need to add the prefix as well.

The golden rules of writing for the web
Writing for the web is very different to writing for print. When you’re online, you want to read clear, concise and engaging writing. And you want to be able to find the information you’re looking for quickly and easily.

This one-day seminar will help you understand the key differences between writing for the web and writing for print, and give you a blueprint for your online writing projects. The seminar will show you:

• the difference between print and online writing
• the differences between good content and poor content
• how your readers engage with web content
• the golden rules of information design
• guidelines for concise writing
• how to use keywords for search engine optimisation
• how to write for accessibility and usability
• why you need a style guide
• and much more

Book giveaway – The Long Song by Andrea Levy
Our latest author interview is with Andrea Levy and you’ll be able to listen to the podcast from tomorrow. Meanwhile, here’s a bit more about her latest book, The Long Song:

July is a slave girl who lives upon a sugar plantation named Amity and it is her life that is the subject of this tale. She was there when the Baptist War raged in 1831, and she was also present when slavery was declared no more. My son says I must convey how the story tells also of July’s mama Kitty, of the negroes that worked the plantation land, of Caroline Mortimer the white woman who owned the plantation and many more persons beside – far too many for me to list here. But what befalls them all is carefully chronicled upon these pages for you to peruse.

Perhaps, my son suggests, I might write that it is a thrilling journey through that time in the company of people who lived it. All this he wishes me to pen so the reader can decide if this is a novel might care to consider. Cha, I tell my son, what fuss-fuss. Come, let them just read it for themselves.

So, if you’d like to read this book for yourself, just tell us what is your favourite song and why. Send your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm Friday 23 April 2010. And don't forget to include your name and postal address so we can send you the book.

The winner of The Swan Thieves (Get Published, 1 April 2010) was Margaret Caulfield-Smith. Congratulations Margaret! Hope you enjoy the book.

Get your book published!
Want to know what it takes to get your book published? Our two-hour seminar on book publishing will help you understand the publishing process, and show you how you can achieve your dream of becoming a published author.

The seminar will cover:

• how to write a winning book proposal
• how to approach publishers
• do you need an agent?
• how much should you write before approaching a publisher?
• negotiating a fair contract
• the editing and re-writing process

 
Here’s what some recent participants thought of the seminar:
‘[I gained] a wealth of information from Geoff's experience as a writer and working with publishers. Having almost completed my book, I am clearer about the options and next steps I need to take.’
- Tim Lee

‘Geoff was supportive and informative, not condescending even when some people asked the most basic question. He was also very self-effacing and honest about his own work as well as encouraging the participants to go down the "get published" path. He was also very realistic about the competitive nature of the business and emphasised the importance of being professional and business-like in your dealings with publishers.’
- Jane Louise Galbraith

This seminar is presented by Geoff Bartlett who is an author, journalist, actor and producer. He has filed articles and interviews for over 20 major newspapers and magazines around the country, including The Sydney Morning Herald, Courier Mail, Canberra Times, West Australian and Australian Style.

In 1999, Geoff's first book, was published in Australia and New Zealand through Harper Collins. Comedians in the Mist was a series of interviews with top Australian comedians.

How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 23 April 2010 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

TIP: Stop doing that forthwith
I received an email the other day with instructions to complete something ‘forthwith’. These days, it's considered a pretty old-fashioned term. The word ‘forthwith’ can be found on this list of ‘faintly archaic’ words. In the normal course of communication, it may be useful to retire this word. However, if you are writing fiction and you want a character to converse in an old-fashioned way, then go ahead and use it in the dialogue you write.

Forthwith means ‘immediately; at once; without delay’, or ‘as soon as can be reasonably expected’.

WEBPICK: Procrastinating Writers
Who better to give advice to procrastinating writers than a chronic procrastinator?

This blog comes from journalist and author, Jennifer Blanchard. She’s done a lot of research on procrastination and why we do it – especially us writers – and her blog brings together advice and tips from authors and her readers on how to get started and just write. She posts regularly (obviously her procrastination doesn’t prevent her writing her blog) and even tests many of the tips she posts.   

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 19 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 20 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 22 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 23 April 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 26 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Wednesday 28 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 30 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Perfecting your pitch with Sue White
When: Tuesday 11 May and 18 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 13 May and 20 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165

Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett - NEW DATE
When: Friday 14 May 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Week beginning Monday 24 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 25 May 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Travel writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 26 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 2 June 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 2 June 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Sue White - NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 10 June 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 18 June 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter - NEW DATE
When: Monday 5 July - Friday 9 July 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July 2010 (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450

Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller - 1 PLACE LEFT
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010

Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller - FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010

• how to get started
• finding the right voice
• creating characters and stories young readers will enjoy
• how to write believable dialogue
• common assumptions about writing for children and about young readers
• how to structure a story that works
• the secrets to plotting for different age groups
• what you need to know about getting into the children’s publishing market

If you’ve already completed our Writing Books for Children course, or you’re working on a manuscript for kids, then you must check out this amazing opportunity from Allen & Unwin and the Queensland Writers Centre.

In October this year, 10 authors will be given the chance to attend an intensive, five-day workshop that will include an individual consultation with editors from Allen & Unwin. Authors will work towards developing a high-quality manuscript suitable for children aged 8-13 years old and also get a chance to meet and talk to publishers, agents, booksellers and other authors.

You have until 5pm on Friday 21 May 2010 to get your application in. Make sure you read the conditions carefully and follow the submission guidelines. You can download these here.

A journalist’s toolbox – Feature Writing Stage 2
Many of our former Feature Writing Stage 1 students have gone on to be published in their favourite magazines and newspapers and have had great success with their writing. Of course, there’s always more to learn, and the next step for many people is Feature Writing Stage 2.

This course will show you what you need to know to work as a journalist and become a fully-fledged freelance writer. You’ll learn new skills on interviewing techniques, finding the right angle and ethics and protocol. You’ll also learn:

• how to attribute quotes correctly
• how to create balance in your stories
• nailing the lead of your feature
• finding hard-to-get interviewees
• Freedom of Information
• where to find relevant sources for your story
• facing journalistic dilemmas
• managing your contact book
• dealing with editors in the real world
• and other publishing conventions which are vital if you are serious about honing your feature writing skills.

Here’s what some previous participants had to say about the course:
‘[I liked] the fact that Judy works in the field and brings real knowledge to the course; she's very helpful and approachable. I did a similar course elsewhere last year and I must say that this one was by far superior. What was so great about this course was the small class size that enabled us to address questions as a group. It really was a far superior course to the one I did last year! Well done! [I’ve] gained practical skills, improved confidence, and generated good ideas for feature articles.’
- Kerstin Pilz

‘The course was choc full of useful information. The presenter made it lively and informative and had fantastic industry knowledge and experience. I feel more confident and informed on how to go about pitching ideas - and coming up with them in the first place.’
- Sylvia Aitken

This course is presented by Judy Skatssoon who is the features editor at Australian Associated Press (AAP). She has also been a successful freelance feature writer, contributing to a diverse range of publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, life etc, Sydney's Child, Women’s Health, ABC Online and many more. At AAP, Judy held a variety of positions including state political correspondent and national medical correspondent. She writes on a wide range of issues including the arts, health, politics, technology, women’s issues, business and more. Recently, Judy has also been a lecturer and tutor in journalism at UTS and is passionate about helping students discover the world of journalism and writing.

Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Wednesdays starting Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Student Success – Congratulations Kerry Osborne!
We received an email this week from former Life Writing student, Kerry Osborne. Here’s what she had to say:

‘I’ve been thrilled this month to be published for the first time – and not just once, but twice. I attended a course at your Centre last year with Patti Miller where I discovered a passion for life writing and memoir.
 
'I had an article published in the Autumn edition of Christian Woman magazine –‘Dad’s Last Day’ (free on-line version of the magazine is available at www.christianwoman.com.au) – which is a tribute to my father who passed away recently. Also, my essay, ‘Bringing in the Light’, was highly commended in the Black Dog Institute’s Annual Writing Competition and has been published on their website (www.blackdoginstitute.org.au). This essay deals with the trauma surrounding late onset depression, and my experiences caring for my elderly parents.

'These small achievements have given me a great boost, and my love affair with writing is continuing to blossom!'

Congratulations Kerry! Two fantastic achievements in one month – and we’re sure there’ll be more.

Book giveaway – Kiss of Death by PD Martin
We’re interviewing some amazing authors this year for our podcast series, and this week we spoke to Australian crime writer PD Martin. Her books have been published worldwide and she’s received glowing reviews for her novels.  

Her latest book, Kiss of Death, is the fifth in a series featuring an Australian FBI profiler, Sophie Anderson.

Sophie Anderson is on a new case, and this one is strange, even for Sophie. The victim is found dead in a state park with two puncture wounds on her neck. There is no blood on the scene, but she looks to have been drained.

Is it a straightforward murder investigation or the result of a ritual performed by LA’s secretive population of vampires?

Special Agent Sophie Anderson must put the pieces together and her feelings aside as the investigation becomes a race against time before more innocent girls die.

We have one copy of Kiss of Death to give away. All you have to do to win it is tell us your idea for a great crime novel. Send your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm Friday 16 April 2010 and please remember to include your postal address.

Kickstart your creativity
Do you have great ideas for stories but aren’t sure how to get them down on paper? Want to know how to improve your short stories, or even get started on your novel? Our Creative Writing Stage 1 course is now available as an evening or daytime course. You can even take it as an intensive five-day course!

This course will show you how to:

• kick-start the creative writing process
• tap into your imagination
• draw from everyday experiences and memories
• examine different types of creative writing
• give structure to your writing
• use characters and dialogue

Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the course:
‘Even though I am only new to writing, during the course I found so many new techniques and ways of approaching my work that I couldn’t have discovered without help. Writing is a passion I have only just recently discovered, and to have a course that offers so much in these early stages of my learning was the best experience I could have hoped for. I loved the course and would recommend it to anyone who wanted to take creative writing to the next level.’
- Gustavo Panucci

‘I didn't know what to expect from the course and wondered, before the start, how it was possible to teach someone to write creatively. Well I quickly found out. I loved every stage of the course, all the tips, writing excercises, exploring different ways of writing, building character profiles. Every bit of it was thoroughly enjoyable and I'm sad that the 5 weeks has come to an end. Jeni is a brilliant teacher, I loved listening to her, she has so much positive energy and she made the group feel very relaxed. The course has given me the confidence to start moving ideas from my mind to paper. I see a story wherever I might to be, whatever I happen to see. It's a very exciting place to be.’
- Kate Bradley

This course will be taught by Jeni Mawter. Jeni is the children’s author of the hilarious ‘So’ series: So Gross!, So Feral!, So Sick!, So Festy!, So Grotty! and So Stinky! (HarperCollins) as well as the Freewheelers series: Unleashed!, Launched! and Extreme! (HarperCollins). Unleashed! was shortlisted for the WAYRBA Older Readers Award 2009.

Jeni has also published fiction, non-fiction, poetry and verse narrative for the education market. With a Master of Arts in Children’s Literature and a Diploma in Book Editing and Publishing Jeni has taught creative writing for many years at Macquarie University and at writers' centres. Her enthusiasm for words and books is infectious.

Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Thursdays starting Thursday 22 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

There are also limited spaces available for our next daytime intensive course.

Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 12 April to Friday 16 April 2010 (five consecutive mornings)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Fascinating word crime
Ok, I'll admit. I'm an Eighties music tragic. So I couldn't help watching the Eighties music special on Foxtel over the Easter weekend. And I also couldn't help spotting this spelling mistake in INXS's video for Mediate. That's right. It should say: "fascinate" not "facinate".

WORDWISE: Pleonasm
A ‘pleonasm’ is ‘the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea’ (from Dictionary.com) or a redundant word. No doubt we’ve all seen them in writing. Some good examples are free gift, true facts or dark night. In other words, pleonasm is wordiness and is something you should avoid in your writing. If a word is not necessary to your sentence, then take it out.

And remember what William Strunk, author of The Elements of Style, said: ‘Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.'

WEBPICK: Premier’s Literary Awards
The shortlists for the 2010 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards were announced yesterday and winners will be announced on 17 May 2010. Twelve shortlists were announced and cover fiction, poetry, children’s and young adult’s books and academic writing. The winners of each category will be decided by a panel of judges, but readers also have a chance to vote for their favourite book in 2009.

The six books shortlisted in the Christina Stead Prize for fiction are now also eligible for the People’s Choice Awards. The shortlisted titles are: 88 Lines about 44 Women by Steven Lang; Wanting by Richard Flannigan; Ransom by David Malouf; The World Beneath by Cate Kennedy; Summertime by J.M. Coetzee; and Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. You have until midnight on 10 May 2010 to vote.

You can vote, and check out all the shortlisted authors here

Other upcoming courses
Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 9 April 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 12 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Monday starting Monday 12 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 12 April - Friday 16 April 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Wednesday beginning Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 19 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 20 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 22 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 23 April 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Wednesday 28 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 30 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Perfecting your pitch with Sue White
When: Tuesday 11 May and 18 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 13 May and 20 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165

Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 24 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 25 May 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Travel writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 26 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson - NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 2 June 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 2 June 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 18 June 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450

Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller - 1 PLACE LEFT
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010

Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller - FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010

Where is Rambo?
Would you like a hot cross bun?
What are you doing for the long weekend?

I wonder what the traffic will be like tonight.
My neighbour asked if she could borrow some milk.
The receptionist asked me my name.

• kick-start the creative writing process
• tap into your imagination
• draw from everyday experiences and memories
• examine different types of creative writing
• give structure to your writing
• use characters and dialogue

Our latest author podcast is now online and this week we interviewed the bestselling author of The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova. Her debut novel was hugely successful, even reaching no. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. And she’s just released her follow-up novel, The Swan Thieves. Here’s some more about the book: 

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe has a perfectly ordered life--solitary, perhaps, but full of devotion to his profession and the painting hobby he loves. This order is destroyed when renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient. In response, Marlowe finds himself going beyond his own legal and ethical boundaries to understand the secret that torments this genius, a journey that will lead him into the lives of the women closest to Robert Oliver and toward a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism. Ranging from American museums to the coast of Normandy, from the late nineteenth century to the late twentieth, from young love to last love, The Swan Thieves is a story of obsession, the losses of history, and the power of art to preserve human hope.

We have one copy of The Swan Thieves to give away. Just tell us which historical figure you’d like to write about and why. Send your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by Friday 9 April 2010. Remember to include your postal address.

You can listen to our interview with Elizabeth here.

Student Success – Megan Czisz
We received more exciting news this week from one of our former students. Megan Czisz, who completed the Feature Writing course with Pamela Wilson, has had an article published in the Sun Herald. She wrote a travel feature about her visit to India.

Congratulations Megan!

You can read Megan’s article here.

Get your articles published
If you'd like to see your name in print in your favourite magazine or newspaper - just like Megan (above) - it’s possible! If you want to learn the secrets to writing good articles and getting them published, our Feature Writing course is for you.

Whether you’re a first-time writer or just want to brush up on your skills, we’ll show you how to research and write great feature articles and what you need to do to grab an editor’s attention. The course will teach you about: 

• which ideas work - and where to get them
• understanding the magazine/news market
• different types of feature articles
• how to research, structure and write a feature
• what editors want from a writer
• how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!

Here’s what recent participant Myriam Thibault had to say about the course:
‘I've really enjoyed the course! Pam was a fantastic presenter and she had real insider's knowledge she was willing to share with us. Even if you already have decent writing skills, you'll learn plenty of useful tips during the course, such as how to write the most effective intros and transitions, how to pick and balance your case studies, or how to become an "active reader", always thinking of new feature story ideas when reading a newspaper or magazine. I'd highly recommend it!’

This course is taught by Pamela Wilson. She has worked as a freelance journalist for the past seven years. Her articles regularly appear in Medical Observer, Reader’s Digest and Health Smart. She has also contributed to various publications including Men’s Health, Good Health and Medicine, Australian Parents, Travel Vacations and Ninemsn online.

In her 18 years in journalism Pamela has worked at the Gold Coast Bulletin, AAP and The Daily Telegraph in a variety of positions covering areas as diverse as medicine, politics, health and family issues, education, travel, books, lifestyle and men’s and women’s issues.

Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson
When: Wednesdays beginning Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

The Big Issue Fiction Edition 2010
The Big Issue’s Fiction Edition is back! This street mag is committed to ‘helping people help themselves’ and is sold by homeless and disadvantaged people on street corners all over Australia. It sells close to 30,000 copies a fortnight and, in 2009, the fiction edition was a sell-out. Contributors included Cate Kennedy, Debra Adelaide and Alice Pung. If you’d like to see your short story amongst such great company, submissions are now being sought for the 2010 Fiction Edition. Stories of up to 3,000 words will be accepted. The closing date is Monday 20 May 2010.

You can find more details here.

If you’re interested in contributing articles to The Big Issue make sure you also check out their contributor page.

Travel and write!
We all love travel. Who doesn’t? And if you also love writing then you could be well on the way to getting paid to travel.

The travel writing industry is a competitive one, but with our insider tips we can show you how to sell your travel features. This two-hour seminar is ideal if you’ve completed our Feature Writing course and want to explore the world of travel writing. The seminar will cover:

• publishing opportunities (newspapers, magazines, electronic publishing, travel literature, guidebooks, other avenues)
• types of travel stories (service stories, destination stories, personal essays)
• what it takes to be a travel writer
• some straight talk about earnings
• finding and focusing your story (the right subject, travel trends, developing your story)
• the art and craft of travel writing
• getting published and making contacts (including tips on joining professional associations such as the Australian Society of Travel Writers)
• writing for travel guidebooks

Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:
‘I have been inspired to get started ASAP! Learnt some practical tips, very reaslistic advice and got some questions answered. My head is spinning with ideas and possibilities and I wish I'd done it sooner!’
- Nicola Wilson

‘A very straight up presenter who told it like it is. Great that he is currently working in the industry.’
- Rebecca Williams

This seminar is presented by Geoff Bartlett, he has worked as a freelance travel writer and photographer for magazines and websites for the last six years. His current areas of focus are the islands of the South Pacific and Asia. He is a regular contributor to Pacific Island Paradises and Asian Paradises.

Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 9 April 2010 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.30am – 12noon
Cost: $75

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Apostrophe crimes
Thanks to Sue Bradshaw who sent us this apostrophe crime from Sydney’s Bridge Climb. She spotted this at Northpoint plaza in North Sydney. (There should be no apostrophe in "Climbs".)

From unnecessary apostrophes to missing apostrophes… Sue White, our Perfecting Your Pitch presenter, spotted this in Byron Bay. (It should be "You're".)

WEBPICK: Oxymoron List
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that contains two normally contradictory words. They pop up in writing all the time – sometimes as inadvertent errors and other times as a deliberate literary device.

The Oxymoron List has hundreds of examples that have been submitted by readers all over the world. You can submit your own oxymoron or vote on those that have made the list. You’ll find many oxymorons in this list that we see every day – and don’t always see as contradictory. There are also lists of anagrams, eupemisms and pleonasms (redundant phrases).

So, if you want to practice your word play and have something to submit, visit www.oxymoronlist.net

Other upcoming courses
Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 5 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson - FULL
When: Tuesday 6 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth - FULL
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 8 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 9 April 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 12 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Monday starting Monday 12 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 12 April - Friday 16 April 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Wednesday beginning Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 20 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter - NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 22 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 23 April 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Wednesday 28 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 30 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Perfecting your pitch with Sue White
When: Tuesday 11 May and 18 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 13 May and 20 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165

Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 25 May 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Travel writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 26 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 27 May 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 2 June 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis - NEW DATE
When: Friday 18 June 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450

Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010

Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller - FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010